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Hi all,
I'm planning a motorbike trip round NW Vietnam in October. Three years ago I did Mai Chau - Son La - Dien Bien - Lai Chau - Sapa but since then I've heard that they're flooding (or already have flooded) the valley around Lai Chau for an HEP scheme. Has anybody been up there recently that can tell me if the road is still open? Will I be forced to take an alternative route from Dien Bien Phu to Sapa (is there one?) Any help much appreciated.
Cheers
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answered about 4 months ago by Bent
I have just been up there with two friends and you can go ahead with your trip, some roads are bad but not impassable, makes the trip more fun plus taking a bit longer.
answered about 4 months ago by kelsbrook
Cheers for that. So was the Lan Anh Hotel in Lai Chau still going? I remember it was a nice place from last time. Hopefully by October when it's drier the roads might be better - okay on a Wave you reckon? Thanks
answered about 4 months ago by kparsons
The roads really aren't bad on that stretch at all -- we were there three weeks ago and they had more or less been cleaned up. The Lan Anh Hotel is still up and running. That city is now called Muong Lay -- I assure you, this is worthwhile info -- we were very confused (and frustrated when we thought we'd somehow gone the wrong way!). If you have a chance, consider bypassing DBP and going northwest from Tuan Giao via Hwy 6 -- most gorgeous "road" I've ever been on -- absolutely stunning.
answered about 3 months ago by Jeff
Are these routes navigable on a wave caliber bike?
answered about 3 months ago by kelsbrook
I'd have to say yes. After all, it's what most of the locals drive (well, cheap Chinese imitations anyway). We did the whole trip I mentioned above on Waves and the only problem we had was a flat in DBP. Having said that, the weather was glorious throughout and we only hit rain when we got to Sapa. October is a great time for this trip. Hope this helps.
answered about 3 months ago by kparsons
Yes, definitely Wave-able. We, two not tiny westerners, rode one Wave for the entire route and had no problems (the mud slows you down a bit more, but more than doable).
